Former KeyBank official Jeff Stone joins Kinderhook Bank

Jeff Stone, who had spent his entire 35-year banking career at KeyBank until a restructuring eliminated his

John Balli, left, and Jeff Stone of Kinderhook Bank

job as regional president in Albany, has joined Kinderhook Bank as senior vice president, retail and business development.

The appointment was effective Thursday.

Stone began his banking career in 1978 at Key in Lowville, and by 1982 had opened and managed Key’s Ogdensburg branch. He worked in upstate New York markets as well as in New England and in the southern Michigan/northern Indiana markets before coming to Albany in 2008.

Kinderhook Bank has expanded into the Capital Region. It operates six branches in Columbia, Rensselaer and Albany counties, and is planning a new two-story branch at 782 Troy-Schenectady Road in Colonie.

“This is an exciting time for Kinderhook Bank,” Stone said. “Kinderhook is a strong local bank, with solid asset quality. They have committed their resources to the Capital District and the time is right to grow.”

Stone will work alongside bank CEO John Balli, who assumed his new post on Tuesday, working to meet the bank’s strategic plan to become “the premier community bank in the Capital Region,” according to Balli.

“We’ve created this job for Jeff because we know he’s the right person to do this job,” Balli said. “Jeff’s past experience will help us chart the future of Kinderhook Bank.”

The bank has grown its assets from $54 million in 1995 to $325 million currently.